Debts & Loans

ADVICE centres in Notts helping soaring numbers of people with debt problems are to get more funding.

Notts County Council is to spend an extra £137,400 to help Citizens Advice Bureaux. It believes it is one of the first authorities in the country to look at how it can help residents struggling in the recession.

The funding approved yesterday is on top of the £273,000 already allocated for the seven bureaux this year.

Coun Glynn Gilfoyle, cabinet member for community safety and partnerships, said: "We are one of the first councils in the country that has looked at credit crunch issues across the board.

"The discussion with officers and myself was about what we are we doing about this issue, because we know it is going to have an impact.

It is about employment issues, and people need welfare and benefit advice so they don't get into debt trouble.

"Sometimes a simple letter from the CAB to the phone company or bank explaining the circumstances can put a freeze on payments. It is important that they have that advice."

The funding comes as national bureaux, over the last six months, faced a 52% increase in clients reporting redundancy problems and a 47% increase in mortgage and secured loans problems.

The cash includes £50,400 to employ a finance capability coordinator for the county, whose role would include training staff and volunteers.

Outreach sessions for Selston and Hucknall, run by the Ashfield bureau, will be funded with £13,200.

Newark and District Bureau will also run outreach sessions and a recruitment drive with the help of £10,600.

Bassetlaw Bureau will benefit from £6,900 for a confidential interview and assessment room.

A 12-month match funded debt advice project will be set up by Broxtowe and District bureau, costing £26,500.

And £9,300 will be spent replacing outdated computer equipment at Mansfield and District bureau.

Ollerton and District bureau will get £10,000 for an outreach coordinator for rural communities. And another £10,500 is set aside for outreach session in Cotgrave, run by the Nottingham and District bureau.

Coun Gilfoyle added: "We live in unprecedented times. The demand for CAB services is outstripping supply and this trend is set to continue. These projects will focus much-needed money where it is needed."

He added that people could also contact the Credit Union for help with money trouble.

Council leader Coun David Kirkham said: "Fortunately in this county we do fund them very well and this extra funding will be a great help. Not all local authorities do the same."